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Michigan Hunting

Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in Michigan, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and hunting zones. Plus much more! Start your research right here.

Overview

Known For

Michigan is known for its rich, passionate hunting history, especially for whitetail, duck, turkey, and black bear. There are limited opportunities for elk hunting, too.

Terrain

Michigan’s terrain is primarily rolling hills and heavily-forested low mountains in the southernmost part and flatlands interspersed with hills in the northernmost section. On its western edge is Lake Michigan, the third largest of the Great Lakes and the only one entirely within the United States.

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Michigan Hunting Seasons

Filter By:
Season
Start Date
End Date
Bear
Sep 6, 2023 – Oct 21, 2023
Bear – Zone 1 (Part 1)

BMU: Bergland, Baraga, Amasa, Carney, Gwinn, Newberry, Drummond Island

Sep 6, 2023
Oct 21, 2023
Bear
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 19, 2023
Bear – Zone 2 (Part 1)

BMU: Red Oak, Baldwin, and Gladwin

Sep 9, 2023
Sep 19, 2023
Bear
Sep 11, 2023 – Oct 26, 2023
Bear – Zone 1 (Part 2)

BMU: Bergland, Baraga, Amasa, Carney, Gwinn, and Newberry

Sep 11, 2023
Oct 26, 2023
Bear
Sep 25, 2023 – Oct 26, 2023
Bear – Zone 1 (Part 3)

BMU: Bergland, Baraga, Amasa, Carney, Gwinn, and Newberry

Sep 25, 2023
Oct 26, 2023
Bear
Oct 6, 2023 – Oct 12, 2023
Bear – Zone 2 (Part 2)

BMU: Red Oak, Baldwin, and Gladwin

Oct 6, 2023
Oct 12, 2023
Deer
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Deer – Liberty Hunt
Youth and hunters with disabilities hunt
Sep 9, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Deer
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Deer – Early Antlerless Firearm
Bag limit 1 per kill tag.
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Deer
Oct 1, 2023 – Nov 14, 2023
Deer – Early Archery
Bag limit 1 per kill tag.
Oct 1, 2023
Nov 14, 2023
Deer
Oct 19, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Deer – Independence Hunt
Hunters with disabilities.
Oct 19, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Deer
Nov 15, 2023 – Nov 30, 2023
Deer – Regular Firearm
Bag limit 1 per kill tag.
Nov 15, 2023
Nov 30, 2023
Deer
Dec 1, 2023 – Dec 10, 2023
Deer – Muzzleloader
Bag limit 1 per kill tag.
Dec 1, 2023
Dec 10, 2023
Duck
Sep 30, 2023 – Nov 26, 2023
Duck – North (Early)
North Zone. Bag limit 6 per day.
Sep 30, 2023
Nov 26, 2023
Duck
Oct 7, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Duck – Middle (Early)
Middle Zone. Bag limit 6 per day.
Oct 7, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Duck
Oct 14, 2023 – Dec 10, 2023
Duck – South (Early)
South Zone. Bag limit 6 per day.
Oct 14, 2023
Dec 10, 2023
Duck
Dec 2, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Duck – North (Late)
North Zone. Bag limit 6 per day.
Dec 2, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Duck
Dec 16, 2023 – Dec 17, 2023
Duck – Middle (Late)
Middle Zone. Bag limit 6 per day.
Dec 16, 2023
Dec 17, 2023
Elk
Aug 29, 2023 – Sep 1, 2023
Elk – Unit X (Part 1)
Aug 29, 2023
Sep 1, 2023
Elk
Sep 15, 2023 – Sep 18, 2023
Elk – Unit X (Part 2)
Sep 15, 2023
Sep 18, 2023
Elk
Sep 29, 2023 – Oct 2, 2023
Elk – Unit X (Part 3)
Sep 29, 2023
Oct 2, 2023
Elk
Dec 9, 2023 – Dec 17, 2023
Elk – Unit H, I, X
Dec 9, 2023
Dec 17, 2023
Goose
Sep 1, 2023 – Dec 16, 2023
Goose – North Zone

Dark Goose Limit: 5 (Canada, Brant, White-fronted)

Light Goose Limit: 20 (Snow, Blue, Ross’s)

Sep 1, 2023
Dec 16, 2023
Goose
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 30, 2023
Goose – South Zone (Part 1)

Dark Goose Limit: 5 (Canada, Brant, White-fronted)

Light Goose Limit: 20 (Snow, Blue, Ross’s)

Sep 1, 2023
Sep 30, 2023
Goose
Oct 7, 2023 – Dec 22, 2023
Goose – Middle Zone (Part 2)

Dark Goose Limit: 5 (Canada, Brant, White-fronted)

Light Goose Limit: 20 (Snow, Blue, Ross’s)

Oct 7, 2023
Dec 22, 2023
Goose
Oct 14, 2023 – Dec 10, 2023
Goose – South Zone (Part 2)

Dark Goose Limit: 5 (Canada, Brant, White-fronted)

Light Goose Limit: 20 (Snow, Blue, Ross’s)

Oct 14, 2023
Dec 10, 2023
Grouse
Sep 15, 2023 – Nov 14, 2023
Ruffed Grouse – Zone 1-2 (Early)
Ruffed grouse bag limit 5 per day.
Sep 15, 2023
Nov 14, 2023
Grouse
Oct 10, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Zone 1. Bag limit 2 per day.
Oct 10, 2023
Oct 31, 2023
Pheasant
Oct 10, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
Pheasant – Zone 1
Bag limit 2 per day (male only).
Oct 10, 2023
Oct 31, 2023
Quail Game Type
Oct 20, 2023 – Nov 14, 2023
Quail
Bag limit 5 per day.
Oct 20, 2023
Nov 14, 2023
Rabbit
Sep 15, 2023 – Mar 31, 2024
Rabbit – Cottontail & Snowshoe Hare
Sep 15, 2023
Mar 31, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023
Turkey – Spring Private Land Only
Hunt Unit: ZZ. Limited license drawing. Is not valid on public lands.
Apr 22, 2023
May 31, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023
Turkey – Spring Statewide
Guaranteed-license hunt (no application required) except on public lands in Hunt Unit ZZ.
Apr 22, 2023
May 31, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023
Turkey – Spring Area 2
Hunt Unit: M. Limited license drawing.
Apr 22, 2023
May 31, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 22, 2023 – Apr 28, 2023
Turkey – Spring Area 3 Part 1
Hunt Unit: K. Limited license drawing.
Apr 22, 2023
Apr 28, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 22, 2023 – May 5, 2023
Turkey – Spring Area 1
Hunt Unit: A, B, E, F, J. Limited license drawing.
Apr 22, 2023
May 5, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 22, 2023 – May 28, 2023
Turkey – Spring Area 4 Part 1
Hunt Unit: ZA, ZB, ZC, ZD, ZE, ZF. Limited license drawing.
Apr 22, 2023
May 28, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 29, 2023 – May 5, 2023
Turkey – Spring Area 3 Part 2
Hunt Unit: K. Limited license drawing.
Apr 29, 2023
May 5, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Apr 29, 2023 – May 12, 2023
Turkey – Spring Area 4 Part 2
Hunt Unit: ZA, ZB, ZC, ZD, ZE, ZF. Limited license drawing.
Apr 29, 2023
May 12, 2023
Turkey Game Type
May 13, 2023 – May 31, 2023
Turkey – Spring Area 4 Part 3
Hunt Unit: ZA, ZB, ZC, ZD, ZE, ZF. Limited license drawing.
May 13, 2023
May 31, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Jun 1, 2023 – Jun 7, 2023
Turkey – Spring Area 4 Part 4
Hunt Unit: ZA, ZB, ZC, ZD, ZE, ZF. Limited license drawing.
Jun 1, 2023
Jun 7, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Sep 16, 2023 – Nov 15, 2023
Turkey – Fall
Hunt Unit: G, GB, GC, J, L, M. T, W, WA, HA, YY. Bag limit 1 tukey either-sex. Limited license drawing.
Sep 16, 2023
Nov 15, 2023

Michigan Licenses, Permits, and Regulations

Michigan hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the official website of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Click below to view the website.

Hunting GPS Maps

Every Michigan hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Michigan hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of deer hunting zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Michigan.

Hunting Zones

Michigan is divided into Hunting and Trapping Zones 1, 2, and 3. Zone 1 includes all of the Upper Peninsula. In addition to defined hunting zones, there are different hunting zones for waterfowl hunting and limited rifle deer zone. Legal shooting times differ within the state as well because Michigan includes parts of the Eastern Time Zone and Central Time Zone. Click below to view Michigan’s hunting zones in more detail through an interactive map.

Hunting Layers

MI Private Lands Preview

MI Private Lands

Over 4,100,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Michigan. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.

MI Gov Lands Preview

MI Gov Lands

onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 9,200,000 acres in Michigan. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.

SUBLAYERS (9) Expand Sublayers
MI Hunt Mgmt Units Preview

MI Hunt Mgmt Units

Michigan Bear, Bobcat, Deer, Deer Multicounty, Deer Multicounty Regional, and Elk Hunt Management Units. Please hunt responsibly and have a safe legal hunt.

Includes 9 Sublayers

  • Bear Hunt Units
  • Bobcat Hunt Units
  • Deer Mgmt Units (DMUs)
  • DMU Multicounty
  • DMU Multicounty Regional
  • Elk (Sept/Oct) Hunt Units
  • Elk (December) Hunt Units
  • Spring Turkey Hunt Units
  • Fall Turkey Management Units
MI Possible Access Preview

MI Possible Access

onX has mapped 350,000 acres of possible access lands in Michigan including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.

MI Commercial Forest Program Preview

MI Commercial Forest Program

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Commercial Forests. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.

MI Hunting Access Program Preview

MI Hunting Access Program

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Hunting Access Program. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Please hunt responsibly and have a safe legal hunt.

MI Limited Firearm Deer Zone Boundary Preview

MI Limited Firearm Deer Zone Boundary

Michigan Limited Firearm deer hunting boundary. South of this line firearms have more restrictions. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.

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